 Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. 2 We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. 3 Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? 5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. 11 For God shows no partiality. God's Judgment and the Law 12 For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. 17 But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God 18 and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; 19 and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— 21 you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?22 You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?23 You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.24 For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” 25 For circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law, but if you break the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. 26 So, if a man who is uncircumcised keeps the precepts of the law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? 27 Then he who is physically uncircumcised but keeps the law will condemn you who have the written code[d] and circumcision but break the law. 28 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. 29 But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God. Meditation God’s steadfast love offers the power of the gospel even to those who do not believe they need it! God’s kindness is revealed even to those who have a “hard and impenitent heart,” storing up wrath for themselves on the day of judgement. Grace invites us to repent of religion, know His grace, and return to Him for intimate relationship. Religious folks lean towards presuming on what we know, who we know, and what we do. Paul is clear: Religion does not save us from God’s just judgement. In fact, our self-righteousness leads us to ignore God’s kindness (4) and compounds His wrath (5)! Beginning with what Francis Schaffer called “the invisible tape recorder,” Paul indicts all religious folk by pointing out hypocrisy, doing the very thing for which we condemn others. If we could hear and see ourselves, we would know we cannot escape God’s judgement (1-3). The religious are judged by the same standards as everyone else. Moving through his argument, Paul contends we are judged by God’s patience (4-5), the fruit of our works proving the fallen nature of our hearts (6-8). We are not secure in our pedigree or knowledge (9-16) and we can be sure both our moralism and religion will fail to meet God’s standard (17-29). Outward observance without inward transformation is empty. Our religion and self-righteousness cannot change our heart or cause us to be born again. Only the gospel, the righteousness from God through faith (1:16-17), can save us from the just judgement of God. We all need the gospel! Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you concerning the judgement of the religious and self-righteous, especially what Paul says cannot save them? -Why is it uncomfortable to know that our religion cannot save us and, though we can be moral and obey some of God’s law, we deserve the same judgement as the irreligious and secular folks from chapter 1? -How does the work of Christ offer hope, a righteousness by faith and through faith? How does this reveal God’s kindness and grace, that while we were still enemies of God, in our self-righteousness, God still makes a way for us to be saved from His judgement!? Key Verse 4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? Comments are closed.
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